Chapter 47
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
maddox
My heart squeezed painfully in my chest when I saw Annalise in such a broken state. I felt useless—there was nothing I could say or do that would take her pain away.
If only I had the cure to cancer, so her grandpa could live longer and be there during all the special moments in her life.
Emilio Delgado may not be related to me by blood, but I considered him my family.
He means a great deal to me. Both of my grandparents live in Japan, so I only saw them once a year growing up, when I would visit with my family.
Emilio is the closest thing I have to a grandparent, and he’s always made me feel like I belong.
I’m absolutely gutted upon receiving the news that he only has a few weeks to live, but I have to try my best to stay strong for Annalise.
Quietly, I open the door to his hospital room, careful not to wake him.
Emilio is in the bed and Annalise is lying in a recliner next to him, both in a deep slumber. Tiptoeing inside, I open the closet and set down a bag of Annalise’s clothes and toiletries that I retrieved from my house earlier.
Walking over to Annalise, I pull the blanket over her body and plant a kiss on top of her head.
Emilio’s eyes flick open and he lets out a yawn.
“Lo siento, Senor Delgado. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
He waves his hand. “No, it’s okay. I’ve been sleeping too much anyway.”
I settle down in the chair next to him. “Is there anything I can get for you? Do you need the nurse?”
“No, I am okay. Thank you.”
He sits up straight, angling his body toward me. “Maddox, I want you to know that I really appreciate you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Annalise. You are an extraordinary young man.”
“And Annalise is an extraordinary young woman,” I reply, my gaze shifting over to her. “I love your granddaughter very much.”
“I know you do,” he says, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. “Many people are scared of death, but I am not.” Reaching over, he places his hand on my shoulder. “I can leave this world knowing she’ll be in good hands.”
Tears well up in my eyes and I blink, trying to hold them back. “I promise I will always take care of her.”
I want to make sure I live up to the standards he set for me. I will love Annalise with everything I have to make him proud. She deserves the kind of love that moves mountains, and I’m going to try my hardest to give it to her.